Gombe FM stations jostling for attention

Since DAAR Communications launched its radio and television stations, AIT/Raypower in February 2013, Gombe State has seen the rise of broadcast media, particularly radio stations in the last five years.

Prior to the opening of private stations, residents of Gombe depended on the state-owned Gombe Media Corporation (GMC).

However, with the emergence of private stations like AIT/Raypower and subsequently Progress Radio FM in 2016, radio programming changed in Gombe with listeners tuning to the newer media.  

When AIT/Raypower started broadcasting, the station featured mostly musicals spiced with some educative programmes.

However, on inception, the Progress Radio introduced Hausa programmes like Kowa Ya Debo Da Zafi, a political programme that gives the parties and individuals the opportunity to raise questions on public issues and also criticize government policies.

The programme gives peoples opportunity to point out issues in government policies and programmes.

The station’s Managing-Director, Alhaji Ibrahim Biu, in an interview with our correspondent, said the station was established to empower youths and enlighten the entire citizens of North-East in the areas of politics, economic development and agriculture.

“I strongly believe that with a media outfit like Progress Radio we can go higher and higher. You will agree with me that though the station has been on air for only two years it has impacted tremendously on  our citizens,” he said.

The station also came in with popular programmes like Tumbin Giwa, a current affairs discussion and phone-in programme that picks a topic of interest and invites public affairs analysts and academics to analyse issues. The programme also has its English version titled “View Point.”

Some other programmes include Duniyar Al’ajabi, Kasan Addininka, Mata Ina Muka Dosa and Daga Marubutanmu’ popular among women.

Amana Radio FM is also another station that is fast becoming popular in the state. 

Established in late 2017, it came on board when Progress Radio was enjoying some sort of monopoly in the state and introduced some interesting phone-in programmes. Also programmes like, “Good Morning Gombe” and “Area Matter” are attracting wide followership. For “Area Matter” for instance, it is the audience that agree on the topic to be discussed.